Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Angelo T. Reyes said that families residing in landslide and flood-prone areas will be relocated to safer places to be identified by the Mines and Geo-sciences Bureau, in coordination with local government units.

Reyes made the announcement yesterday (January 5) during his visit to areas devastated by typhoon Reming in Guinobatan, Albay, where he also distributed relief goods to some 1,670 affected families.

Reyes also ordered the MGB to fast track its geohazard mapping activities in Region V to enable the LGUs to draw a more realistic zoning and land-use plans for their respective municipalities.

Reyes turned over eight crates of plywood and 18,000 board feet of lumber worth Php 800,000 to Guinobatan Mayor Juan Garcia. The plywood and lumber will be distributed to schools, day care centers and barangay halls in Guinobatan to reconstruct damaged buildings, according to him.

Reyes assured the people of Guinobatan during the turnover ceremony that the DENR is ready to provide technical assistance in drawing up the town’s land use and zoning to minimize future damages brought about by typhoons and other natural calamities.

He said that proper identification of hazardous areas will alert local government units and make them respond better in times of emergency and at the same time more prepared against damages to life and property.

Reyes acknowledged the help of the business sector, specifically the Philippine Wood Producers Association of the Philippines (PWPA) who donated the plywood and lumber, and the Rotary Club and the Filipino Chamber of Commerce in Naga City.

Reyes also distributed relief goods consisting of rice, grocery items and used clothings to 1,000 families affected by typhoon “Reming”.

He also gave the same assistance to 670 DENR-Region V employees who were affected by the recent typhoon.

Apart from the relief mission, Reyes was in Albay to discuss local land use and zoning in line with the DENR’s development programs. (DENR-PAO)

January 6 , 2006